User talk:BunniRabbi

Relativism page's Internal Consistency section

Hi there. I don't think your section on Internal Consistency on the Relativism page works as currently presented.

While I think that you present a good argument against epistemic relativism, the argument doesn't touch other forms of relativism. As such, it should not be presented as a general attack on relativism.

If you think that you presented an argument against relativism in general, I'm afraid its just a straw man. For instance: A moral or cultural relativist may be an epistemic realist persuaded that reality does not impose any absolute standards on morality or culture beyond natural selection. You could not employ reductio ad absurdum against such positions as you do in your section, since it could be absolutely true that reality does not impose any absolute standards on morality or culture.

Why wouldn't you apply the same reasoning against morality or culture and simply get the same results? Perhaps I'm missing the essence of your response.

I don't see this as a reduction ad absurdum, it an internal consistency issue shown through application.

I'm not implying that reality does not impose any absolute standards on morality or culture. Where do you see that implication?
--BunniRabbi 12:35, 16 November 2010 (CST)

I said that the argument doesn't work since someone could hold as absolutely true that reality does not impose any absolute standards on morality or culture. Lets focus on morality.

One could believe that there are no absolutely no absolute moral standards without inconsistency. Such a person would be both a realist concerning truth and a relativist concerning morality.

Now, take your argument and apply it to them:

"First take the standard claim of relativism, that all points of view are equally valid relative to the standards of those views, and that no truth exists outside of views."

one would probably respond: "I do not believe that all points of view are equally valid relative to the standards of those views, and I never claimed that no truth exists outside of views. This doesn't apply to my position in any way."

"Then consider that if all points of view are true according to their frame of reference, then realism is also true according to its framework."

one would probably respond: "Since your first assertion had nothing to do with my position, this second assertion also has nothing to do with my position. Moral Relativism does not say that all moral views are true according to their frame of reference. Therefore, it is never implied that moral realism is also true according to its framework. Indeed, I claim that it is absolutely true that moral realism is untenable. Is killing moral? Who is doing the killing of what? Without defining that relation, its impossible to answer the question. Soldiers killing enemies may be moral. Butchers killing cows may be moral. A Duke killing a King in order to usurp power may be immoral. We really need more information before coming to a decision. Situations are full of relations that effect what we deem moral or immoral. Without relativity, there are no moral questions; hence, a non-relative or absolute morality is absurd."

"Realism says that there exists truth outside of viewpoints, so if realism is true then relativism is not, but as shown realism is true according to relativism."

one would probably respond: "Once again, moral relativism never claims that moral realism is true. That was just a straw man, and while straw men may be simple to pick apart... it doesn't accomplish anything more than picking apart the straw man."

Atheism is based on faith

"In a strict Epistemological sense atheism can be said to rest on faith, in that all knowledge must come through thought and/or sensory information, and both are fallible. By this understanding of the term "faith" however, the idea that the sun will rise tomorrow, that there is such a thing as "Tuesday", and that you, the reader, exist, are also based on faith."

to the main section.

I have to disagree with you completely here. Atheism, or not believing that a god exists, is not knowledge. It is lack of belief in a god. I would dare say that a person born with no sense organs, trees, and even rocks do not believe in a god. As such, they would be atheistic. In any case, absolutely no epistemic leaps of faith are needed not to believe in a god.

I don't mean to be picking on you. I'm pretty new to this wiki stuff and am just surfing the recent changes.

I am not saying that Atheism is knowledge, I am saying that it is a statement of conviction, which implies the speaker takes it as knowledge. If you say "There is no God", it means that "I believe it is factual that there is no God." There is an implication of belief.

"I would dare say that a person born with no sense organs, trees, and even rocks do not believe in a god. As such, they would be atheistic."
I'm not sure what the relavence is here. That person does not have data to support their belief, but belief is belief weather or not there is a reason for the belief.

In what way can their be knowledge which does not require that leap of faith? All knowledge comes through the senses postpriori or through reason a priori, or through a combination of the two. One must then either trust the senses or reason, and usually both. That trust is an epistemic leap.--BunniRabbi 12:37, 16 November 2010 (CST)